World News - Senate to vote on alternative immigration plan Feinstein gets a shot, but earlier compromise still seen as favorite

The Senate is heading for a final vote on a compromise immigration bill, but not before a California Democrat pushes an alternative that would allow the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country since Jan. 1 to remain, work and get a shot at citizenship.Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s plan would supplant the compromise reached by key senators on immigration last month, if approved. That compromise allows illegal immigrants here five years or more to stay and work and after six years seek legal residency after paying back taxes and fines and showing they were learning English.Those in the country two to five years must go to a point of entry, exit and file an application to return as a guest worker. Those here less than two years must leave the country. They could apply from their native country to return as a guest worker or on a visa.... http://www.msnbc.msn.com

Colombian troops have accidentally shot dead 10 undercover police officers working on an anti-drugs operation in southern Colombia, officials say. Soldiers near the town of Jamundi mistook the police for drug traffickers, Defence Minister Camilo Ospina said, announcing an inquiry. A civilian was also killed in the skirmish, Mr Ospina said. President Alvaro Uribe, who is standing for re-election on Sunday, urged a speedy and complete investigation. "I regret to announce that an accident occurred that resulted in the death of 10 police officers and one civilian," Mr Ospina told a news conference in Bogota. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5007184.stm

Pakistan today granted a one-month stay of execution for a British man convicted of murdering a taxi driver 18 years ago and called for a financial settlement to be reached with the victim’s family. Mirza Tahir Hussain, a British man of Pakistani origin, was saved from the gallows by the intervention of President Pervez Musharraf after direct appeals from the British Government and European Parliament. Hussain was due to be hanged after a previous stay of execution expired on June 1. The fresh extension means he has another month’s reprieve to reach a "blood money" deal or possibly face the gallows."The family of the victim sent an appeal to the President. He’s given an extension for one month," Tasnim Aslam, a spokeswoman for Pakistan Foreign Ministry, said. "During this time, they (Hussain’s family) are to work out a mutually agreed arrangement with the family of the victim." ...http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2193564,00.html

A springtime struggle for power between coalition forces and the Taliban has led to Afghanistan's bloodiest week in five years. US officials predict more violence this summer as NATO prepares to secure the troubled south. Afghanistan, since 2001 when the Islamist Taliban regime was ousted, has never been a model of peace and tranquillity. But violence, suddenly, is on the rise this spring. The last seven days have seen the worst fighting in Afghanistan in five years.The Helmand and Kandahar provinces, both located in south Afghanistan, have been particularly hard hit by a springtime insurgency as NATO troops prepare to replace American soldiers in the region this summer. On Tuesday, Taliban fighters ambushed a patrol in the southern Afghanistan mountains killing three Afghan policemen and leaving 12 militants dead. Three health workers were also killed by a roadside bomb not far from Kabul on Tuesday, the latest in a series of attacks on health workers this spring....http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,417704,00.html

Global temperatures will rise further in the future than previous studies have indicated, according to new research from two scientific teams. They both used historical records to calculate the likely amplification of warming as higher temperatures induce release of CO2 from ecosystems. They both conclude that current estimates of warming are too low, by anything up to 75%. Their conclusion is backed up by a new report from the Australian government. The Australian Greenhouse Office says current estimates of temperature rise are "being challenged" by new research. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5006970.stm

Warplanes from Greece and Turkey collided over the Aegean Sea island of Karpathos as they shadowed each other Tuesday, and officials said the Turkish pilot was rescued unhurt and a search was launched for the Greek pilot.Fighter planes from the two NATO allies frequently intercept each other over the Aegean, mostly in areas of disputed airspace.The Turkish military identified both planes as F-16 fighter jets and said the Turkish pilot, 1st Lt. Halil Ibrahim Ozdemir, was rescued by a merchant ship. Greek authorities said a search was under way for the pilot of the Greek plane. Authorities in Greece initially said there were two Turks aboard the Turkish plane, but later said only one was aboard. The government in Ankara only made reference to Ozdemir.“It appears the incident occurred while the Greek plane was intercepting the Turkish jet,” Greek government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said....http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12929072/from/RSS/